What FSBO Homeowners Must Do Before Home Inspection
If you are selling your house, home inspection is something that you need to complete, whether or not your state require you to undertake it to complete a house sale. All smart buyers require a home inspection, whether it is done by the seller’s inspector or done by the buyer’s inspector.
To complete the home inspection process on the day the inspection is scheduled, you need to prepare the house for inspection. This way, the house inspector does not need to go back to the house another day to complete inspection details missed during the scheduled inspection day.
The first thing you need to do is to make your own informal home inspection. You can download and print a free but satisfactory house inspection checklist from a home maintenance web site. With your informal inspection, you can see minor defects that you can correct before the professional home inspection is conducted.
Your informal home inspection will also open your eyes to things that you need to do so that the professional inspector can proceed with his home inspection process smoothly, facilitating the completion of the house sale.
As you check major house systems, such as plumbing, heating, ventilation, walls, foundations and roofing systems, check also small things such as light switches, door knobs and bathroom fixtures. Visualize what things the prospective buyer will check and try during the house inspection, and ensure that they are working.
Another important thing is the cleanliness of the house. If the house appears generally clean and orderly, it gives the impression that the house is well-maintained and therefore, in good condition and long-lasting.
Set aside about two to three hours for the house inspection. If you are currently occupying the house, you need to be out of the house at least 30 minutes before the scheduled inspection, as many house inspectors start early. Put your pets in their cages and schedule activities for your young children in another place.
Provide the keys to rooms and utility boxes. Make sure the house inspector is able to test all utilities by seeing to it that all connections are working. Keep pilot lights on so that the inspector can try the furnace, stove and water heater systems.
If you had been packing, put your large boxes in storage, or place them away from where the inspector and prospective buyer will pass to access the attic, crawlspaces, water meters and bathtubs.
Finally, remind the home inspector and the prospective buyer that you are open to negotiation in case they find something that needs repair or that affects the price.
